Chapter 15 #2
“Yeah, fine.” Ronan plucked his fork from his plate and shoveled food into his mouth. After chewing, he said, “It’ll take me some time to trust you.” He eyed Jeff. “Maybe a lot of time. But I want to try.”
“Good. I guess that’s all I can ask for.” Jeff gave him a warm grin and then drank some bourbon. “This is good, son. What is it?”
“Basil Hayden.” Ronan ate a chunk of orange chicken.
“Wow, that’s some expensive stuff.” He cast his gaze around the room, lingering on a few items. “You’ve done well for yourself.”
My senses tingled. The way he’d stated that seemed strange, or was it? Maybe I was reading too much into it.
“I have done well for myself. The band…” Ronan glanced at me for a beat and then faced Jeff. “Our last album hit the top of the charts, and the tour brought in plenty. The merch sells well, too.”
“You’re very successful then. It’s nice to know a man like me could produce a successful offspring.” Jeff’s lips curved faintly as he finished the last bite of his food.
The rest of the conversation had become easier, and Jeff even helped clean up after dinner. We’d opted for another bourbon on the patio, talking about music and hockey, and finally, he left with Ronan giving him a hesitant side-hug.
As Ronan shut the door, a long sigh escaped him. “Wow, that was a lot.”
“How are you feeling?” I wrapped him in a tight hug, skimming my hand along his back. I couldn’t imagine what was going on inside him right now.
“I don’t know. I’m hopeful, but I’m scared.” He buried his face in my neck. “If he fucks me over…it’ll crush me.”
“I don’t blame you.” I kissed his hair, my chest aching for him. “He seemed really nice tonight, though. You two got along.” I hoped I wasn’t leading him astray, but I wanted this to work for him.
Lifting his head, he said, “So, you didn’t get any red flags from him?” His gaze scanned my face.
With a shake of my head, I said, “Not really. He seems genuine to me, like he really wants to reconnect with you. But I’ve never met a man like Jeff.
” I bit my lower lip. “Hell, you two share mannerisms.” How much of that was genetic?
Or had he learned it when he was a toddler, and his father was still around?
“We do?” He lifted his brows.
“Yeah, like when you’re contemplating what to say, you both have this little twitch in your brows.” As I chuckled, I brushed a finger across his eyebrow.
“No…” The corner of his lips rose. “That’s crazy.
” He stepped away from me and focused on Bean, sitting at our feet with his tongue hanging out.
“What do you think, Bean?” He crouched down and scratched behind his ears.
“Funny, though, Bean didn’t get very close to him. He stayed by my side all night.”
“Yeah, well, he just met the guy, and he probably sensed your mistrust of Jeff.” I planted a hand on my hip. What time was it? We’d spent a long time talking. I slipped my phone from my jeans pocket. Shit, it was ten already. “Hey, I should go.”
“Yeah?” Flipping his long dark bangs from his face, Ronan stood. “Morning skate.” He offered a slight grin. “I’ll meet you at Lucas's and Ezra’s house, okay?” His grin waned. “Then it won’t look like we’re together.” He clicked his tongue.
“Yeah, okay.” Fuck, would it really hurt anything to tell them? But if it got around to the team…“Anyway, see you tomorrow.” Cupping his cheek, I pressed a gentle kiss on his lips. Damn it, I wanted to stay and make sure he was okay tonight. But the playoffs...
“See you tomorrow.” Breaking the kiss, he opened the door. “Text me the address.”
“I will.” Leaning over, I petted Bean’s head. “Bye, Bean. You take good care of Ronan tonight.” I smiled as I rose and then with a pat on Ronan’s ass, I strolled to my car.
As I worked on the bench press with Lucas and Nolan in the gym after our morning skate, my phone buzzed in the pocket of my athletic shorts. “Just a minute.” I stepped away from them, Lucas on the bench while Nolan spotted him.
I glanced at the phone’s screen and Rob Trembley scrolled across it. My agent. “Hey, Rob.” I pressed the phone to my ear.
“Hey, Evan. How are things?” he asked.
“Good, just waiting on some of these NHL checks to hit my bank account.” The great thing about being called up? I would get higher pay from the playoff pool, just like my teammates.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be a nice couple of checks.” He chuckled. “Hey, I’m hearing rumors about Benson. Has management spoken to you yet?”
I shook my head, glancing at the bench with Nolan now pushing the bar up and Lucas spotting him. “Not yet. I’ve heard rumblings as well.” If Rob had heard something, then Benson must be on his way out. I felt a little sorry for the guy, but his loss was my gain.
“Okay, so if they do, remember we have a two-way contract and won’t have to renegotiate anything. This’ll benefit you. They already know what your pay would be, and they can factor it into the salary cap for next year.”
“Yeah, okay.” I’d done the right thing by hiring Rob. Dad hadn’t been completely convinced, but Rob had taken me on even with my late draft. I shifted my stance.
“How are you physically? Any problems I should know about? Anything at all?” he asked.
“Nope, I’m all good here. This week off has healed a few bruises, and I’m feeling strong.” I twisted my lips. Should I say anything about Ronan? No, we were good on that front.
“Great, I look forward to hearing they’ve made you permanent then,” he said. “This is your time, Evan.”
“Thanks. I feel it too.” I peeked at Lucas, sipping water from a sports bottle and watching me. “I should go. I’m at the gym.”
“Okay, speak with you soon.”
“Yep, bye.” I ended the call and strutted to Lucas and Nolan.
“Who was that? Ronan?” Lucas flashed a smirk.
“No, it was my agent.” It was probably too early for Ronan to be awake. I stuffed my phone into my pocket. “What have you heard about Benson?”
“Just that he’s on his way out.” Nolan stood and patted my shoulder. “I mean, he’s not in here with us, right? That’s a sure sign.”
“Yeah, guess so.” I had this in the bag. I sat on the bench. “Load me up.”
Laughing through a scoff, Lucas added plates to the bar. “Dude, I wouldn’t go any higher than what’s on there. If you tear a pec, how will you shoot?”
I’d texted Ronan the address for Lucas’s house, which was a modest home in the adobe-style, so popular around here, and near my place and Old Town.
Tall palm trees rose beside the squarish portico covering the front door, and the yard held a large saguaro with desert plants, strategically placed in landscaping rock.
As I parked in the driveway, I noticed movement behind me.
A matte black Porche Taycan pulled along the curb and stopped.
Holy fuck, was that Ronan’s car? I hadn’t seen it yet.
I hopped out of my Jeep and strolled to the car as Ronan stepped out of it, all dressed in black with thick silver necklaces falling across his exposed chest. “Hey, nice fucking car.” I brushed a finger along the sleek trunk, or what I thought was the trunk. The thing was electric, so who knew?
“Thanks.” With a broad smile, he stepped toward me and squeezed my hand. “I’d kiss you, but you know.” His gaze swung toward the house.
“Yeah.” Shit, this was stupid. “Come on.” I strolled with Ronan to the front door and then rang the bell.
The door swung open, and Lucas stood in the entrance. “Hey guys, come on in. Ezra is in the middle of removing the salmon from the oven.” He stepped aside.
I hadn’t visited in a while, but I’d been here when they’d moved in, and Lucas had proposed to Ezra. Glancing at Ronan, I said, “Ezra picked all the furniture. He’s quite artistic.” I poked Ronan’s arm. “Sort of like you.”
“Yeah?” Ronan’s gaze panned the main room, filled with a comfortable brown leather couch and loveseat, surrounded by rich wood tables in a retro style. “I like it.” He strolled to a wall filled with black and white photos of landscapes, plants, and architectural elements tucked into black frames.
“Oh, Ezra is a photographer. These are all his.” Lucas clapped his hands together. “He has a studio close by.”
“He does? So, he takes clients?” Ronan inspected each photo along the wall. “He really captures the light in interesting ways.”
“Yeah, we met when he did a calendar shoot for our AHL team.” Lucas chuckled and scratched his head. “Remember that, Evan?”
“Do I ever. That was the calendar shoot I told you about, Ronan.” I let out a soft snort. “I think it was love at first sight, and you’d never been with a man before, right, Lucas?” Why had I blurted that out?
“Really?” Ronan arched a brow at me.
“I mistook him for a woman from behind.” With a warm laugh, Lucas shook his head. “But when I found out differently, it didn’t deter me.”
“What are you saying about me?” Ezra strolled into the room, his billowy white shirt falling past his jeans and his dark hair dropping just past his shoulders. He was slighter than Ronan, but they had a similar look. “Ronan Vale, it’s so nice to see you again.” Ezra held out his hand.
“Same. Thank you for inviting me. It smells delicious.” Ronan shook Ezra’s hand. “I was just admiring your photos.” He flicked a glance at the wall. “Would you consider doing a shoot for my band?”
Ezra’s face lit. “Would I? Hell yes.” He snatched Lucas’s hand. “I’d be honored. Are you looking for promotional photos or something for your next album?”
“Not sure yet. Give me your card before we leave, and I’ll have our manager set something up. She’ll know what we need.” He offered Ezra a friendly grin.
“Okay, I can do that.” With a peek toward their kitchen, upgraded with deep blue cabinets and white granite counters, Ezra said, “Dinner is ready.” He focused on Lucas. “Can you get everyone drinks?”
“Sure. What do you want? I’ve got beer, wine, liquor, water or Gatorade.” He followed Ezra into the kitchen.
“Are you drinking tonight, Lucas?” I strolled behind him. I wouldn’t drink if he weren’t.
“I’m having wine with dinner.” Lucas stopped at the kitchen island and then faced us. “What about you, Ronan?”
“Do you have any bourbon?” He smirked.
“Sure, I’ve got some Angel’s Envy.” He opened a lower cabinet and pulled out a shelf on wheels. “Is that okay?”
“Great. I’d like it neat, please.” Ronan ambled toward their wooden table, big enough to seat six and already set, and took a seat.
“Wine for me.” Should I sit next to Ronan or across from him? Pressing my lips together, I strolled to the table. Did it matter? If I sat next to him, would it look like we were together? I took the chair opposite him. I was making too much of this.
Lucas brought our drinks to the table and dropped into the chair at the head of it, while Ezra sat between me and Lucas.
Ezra peeked at Ronan. “Sorry if you notice me looking at you tonight, Ronan, but it’s a little surreal having you here.” His cheeks flushed pink. “I’m a big fan.”
“Oh, no worries.” Ronan pulled his linen napkin from under his silverware and set it in his lap. “You have a very comfortable home.” He tossed a glance at Lucas. “I like your taste, Ezra.”
“Yeah, it’s all him. I just play hockey.” With a snort, Lucas set a hunk of salmon on his plate and then passed it around.
While we added food to our plates, I said, “Ronan has a nice setup too. His house is amazing.” When the playoffs were over, I couldn’t wait to spend more time there.
“Oh? I take it you’ve gone there a few times?” Ezra ate a bite of potato.
“He’s been giving Ronan exercise tips.” With a quick chuckle, Lucas sipped his wine. “How’s that going?”
As a smirk curled Ronan’s lips, he said, “It’s great. Evan has shown me a lot of ways to ease back pain.” He turned his smirk on me.
My cheeks heated. He was teasing me now.
“Oh, you have back pain?” Ezra stuffed some fish into his mouth. “My sister does, too, but she’s pushed out a few kids.” He giggled.
“I haven’t pushed out any kids.” Ronan flashed a smile at me and then said, “But I run around a lot onstage and I’m sure that’s where it comes from.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty sexy onstage with the way you move your hips.” My eyes popped open. Fuck, had I said that out loud?
With the corner of his mouth quirking, Lucas set his fork on his plate and tented his fingers over it. “Is that so, Evan?” He gave a knowing look to Ezra as a grin ghosted across his lips.
“Yeah, I mean, he is, right?” With a faltering laugh and my cheeks heating, I ate my food, pretending it was completely normal for me to find a guy sexy. How could I get out of this?
“Thank you, Evan. It’s a nice compliment.” As a smirk spread across his lips, Ronan shook his head.
Ezra peered at me and then at Ronan. “How often do you two hang out?”
“I don’t know, every few days, I guess.” Was I digging a deeper hole? I sipped my wine.
“Where do you go? I’ll bet people notice Ronan when he goes out.” Ezra ate some salmon.
“We usually go to his house. Then people can’t bother us.” Fucking hell. As I stuffed potatoes into my mouth, my pulse quickened. I chanced a peek at Ronan, eating his dinner. He was letting me handle this.
“Where do you live, Ronan? Is it close?” Lucas drank some wine.
“Yes, it’s close to here. I’m on the border of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale.” Flashing a grin at Lucas, he set his fork on his plate. “I’ve made dinner for Evan a few times.” He pushed his lips to the side and glanced at me.
“You have?” Lucas peered at me. “Evan, you mentioned none of this. I thought you were seeing someone? What was her name? Rosalie?”
Ronan winced and scratched his cheek.
This was stupid. The more questions they asked, the more obvious it became that we might be more than friends. “Yeah, um, about that…” With my heart pounding into my throat, I inhaled deeply and faced Ronan. “I’m just going to tell them, okay?”
With his brows sweeping up, Ronan nodded. “It’s up to you.”
“Tell us what?” Lucas tilted his head.
Ezra’s lips widened into a wicked grin. “You two are together.” After wiping his lips with his napkin, he said, “I knew it.”
Staring at Ezra, Lucas said, “You did? How?”
“The way they look at each other.” Ezra’s smile stretched to his eyes. “I saw the same look in your eyes when we first started dating.”
Fuck it. I rose from the table, snatched Ronan’s hand, and kissed the back of it. “Yeah, guess I’ve switched teams. But can you blame me? Look at him.” I gazed deeply into Ronan’s dark eyes. We were in a safe space, and he didn’t deserve to be hidden.